The Friar's Prologue
Folio 76v
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¶ The prologe of the freres tale ~
This worthy lymytour / this noble frere
He made alwey / a maner louryng chiere
Vp on the Somonor / but for honestee
No vileyns word / as yet to hym spak he
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But atte laste / he seyde vn to the wyf
Dame quod he / god yeue yow rigħt good lyf
Ye han heer touched / also moot I thee
In scole matere greet difficultee
Ye han seyd muche thyng rigħt wel I seye
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But dame / heere as we ryde by the weye
Vs nedeth nat to speken but of game
And lete / auctoritees / on goddes name
To perchyng and to Scole of clergye
And if it lyke / to this compaignye
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I wol yow / of a Somonor telle a game
Pardee / ye may wel knowe by the name
That of a Somonor / may no good be sayd
I praye / þt noon of you / be yuele apayd
A Somonor / is a renner vp and doun
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With mandementz / for fornicacioun
And is ybet at euery townes ende
¶ Oure hoost tho spak / a sire ye sholde be hende
And curteys / as a man of youre estaat
In compaignye / we wol haue no debaat
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Telleth youre tale / and lat the Somonor be
¶ Nay quod the Somonor / lat hym seye to me
What so hym list whan it comth to my lot
By god / I shal hym quiten euery grot
I shal hym tellen / which a greet honour
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It is / to be a flaterynge lymytour
And of many another maner cryme
Which nedeth nat rehercen for this tyme
And his office / I shal hym telle ywis
¶ Oure hoost answerde / pees namoore of this
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And after this / he seyde vn to the frere
Tel forth youre tale / leeue maister deere